Volvo Trucks UK has recently supplied electric lorries to businesses in two very different sectors – waste management and the building trade – demonstrating the impressive versatility of the vehicles

Waste and resource management expert LondonEnergy has taken delivery of a Volvo FM Electric 6×2 tractor unit to maximise the decarbonisation potential of its operations.

Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre South & East, the new all-electric vehicle will be tasked with collecting unrecyclable waste from the firm’s transfer station, in Islington.

A portion will then be delivered to its energy centre, in Edmonton, where it will be turned into renewable electricity to power 80,000 homes every year, while any dry mixed recycling will be transported to a local Material Recycling Facility for processing.

Gareth Stephens, Transport and Logistics Manager, LondonEnergy, said: “With the growing concern around climate change it is vital that as an industry we continue to consider how alternatively fuelled HGVs could help us to decarbonise. Ultimately, this is what led us to Volvo Trucks.

“We looked at the other options available in the market, but we quickly concluded that the Volvo product is the most mature offering available. The Volvo team – both in the UK and in Sweden – went above and beyond to help us fully understand how an electric truck could benefit our operations. We are excited to get started and use the new truck.”

The customer’s FM Electric features the maximum six batteries, as well as three electrical motors generating an output of 666 hp and 2,400 Nm of continuous torque. It is paired with a standard I-Shift gearbox, creating a smooth and ultra-quiet in-cab driving experience.

This impressive performance is handled by an electromobility traction control system to help manage power output on slippery surfaces. Different drive modes are also available to set desired performance, comfort and energy usage levels.

Offering a range of up to 300 km, the vehicle can be recharged in just 2.5 hours with a 250kW DC charger, or 9.5 hours on a 43kW AC charger.

To maximise operational use, LondonEnergy has also taken a five-year Volvo Connect subscription, providing access to digital and connected services via a portal through which the business can access data to help analyse fleet operation to ensure optimal vehicle performance.

Paired with a custom-built Legras walking floor compactor trailer, the FM Electric will operate Monday through Friday. It will complete four to five trips a day before returning to base to charge overnight, where Volvo has assisted with the installation of a 43 kW AC charger as well as ensuring there is sufficient capacity for a further five chargers to be fitted when required.

The truck is also fully backed through a Volvo Gold Contract which includes preventative maintenance and repairs, plus the monitoring of key systems including batteries and other critical components.

Meanwhile, Joseph Parr (Alco) has taken delivery of a Volvo FM Electric 6×2 rigid, believed to be the first zero-tailpipe heavy-duty truck working for a builders’ merchant in the UK.

The new FM Electric will operate predominantly from the business’ Bradford depot, carrying out back-to-base customer deliveries. It was part funded by a grant from Bradford City Council, which will monitor the truck’s impact closely – via data from Volvo Connect, the manufacturer’s fleet management system – as it tries to drive down carbon emissions in the city’s Clean Air Zone and wider areas.

Michael Beaumont, Joint Managing Director at Joseph Parr (Alco), said: “Regulations across the industry are changing and we want to ensure we are ahead of the curve in terms of new green technologies.

“When the decision was made to go down the electric route, Volvo Trucks was the obvious choice. We had one Volvo on the fleet already and they are clearly leading the way when it comes to electric.”

The new FM Electric will replace a diesel model from a rival manufacturer in the business’ five-strong HGV delivery fleet, offering benefits when it comes to driving down the company’s carbon footprint.

Supplied by Crossroads Truck and Bus, the new vehicle has a four-battery configuration, ensuring a good combination of range and payload capacity for Joseph Parr’s building material supply deliveries.

Built on a 5,200mm wheelbase, the rear steer tag axle FM Electric – fitted with a Palfinger BM 26 crane – is powered by two electrical motors which generate 450 hp and will operate at a 28-tonnes gross vehicle weight.

“Despite the additional weight of the batteries, we actually see a slight payload advantage over the traditional 26-tonne diesel trucks we run,” adds Beaumont. “That was an important factor as we are pretty much up to full weight every time our trucks go out.”

A newly-installed 43kW AC charger at the company’s depot will allow the truck to charge overnight before heading out to complete its deliveries the next day. As well as working in Bradford, the business will also use the FM Electric for operations in Leeds, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax and Manchester.

The FM Electric is backed by a five-year Volvo Gold Contract, which will see all maintenance undertaken at the local dealership in Birstall. The contract also guarantees the performance of the traction batteries beyond the two-year warranty that comes with the truck as standard.

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